‘Why evade if there's nothing to hide?': Dems invoke rare Senate rule to force Epstein files release - The Economic Times Video
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Mint
25 minutes ago
- Mint
'They want to connect things, justify…': Kash Patel's girlfriend confronted With MAGA spy accusations amid Epstein row
Alexis Wilkins, the 26-year-old country singer dating 45-year-old FBI Director Kash Patel, faced a storm of online conspiracy theories accusing her of being an Israeli 'honeypot' spy. The claims exploded after the Justice Department closed the Jeffrey Epstein case on July 10, announcing no 'client list' existed and no evidence of foul play in Epstein's death . MAGA influencers, furious over the anticlimactic outcome, targeted Wilkins, a PragerU contributor, because the conservative group's CEO once served in Israeli military intelligence. One viral post asked: 'Why would an attractive young woman date a not so attractive Indian American?' calling their relationship a 'classic honey pot'. Wilkins fired back on Megyn Kelly's show, calling the theories 'insanely ridiculous' and noting she met Patel naturally at a Nashville house party over 2.5 years ago, long before his FBI appointment. 'It would have been a really long-game play,' she joked about the spy allegations. The Arkansas native, who attended the same Swiss school as Tucker Carlson, clarified she's Christian, not Jewish as some conspiracies claimed, and called the attacks 'disheartening'. She understands fans' frustration over the Epstein case but insists critics 'tie pieces together in all the wrong ways'. The couple's 19-year age difference fueled conspiracy theories, but Wilkins called it irrelevant compared to Patel's 'incredible character' and their shared patriotism. 'He's exactly who he is all the time... the most integrity I've experienced,' she told Kelly, describing their bond over American values. Wilkins noted her public conservative work, hosting a Rumble show, supporting veterans—should disprove spy claims. Yet theories persisted, including false claims Patel 'left his wife' for her, despite no evidence he was ever married. Experts say the attacks reflect MAGA's shattered expectations. For years, Patel promised to expose Epstein's elite contacts, declaring in 2022: 'Put on your big boy pants' to the FBI. His shift to calling the case 'closed' after becoming director angered supporters seeking accountability. With no bombshells in the Epstein files, conspiracy theories filled the void—and Wilkins became a convenient target. As she stated: 'These accusations come from accounts farming engagement after their relevance dried up post-Trump's win' .
Hindustan Times
25 minutes ago
- Hindustan Times
Rahul Gandhi backs Trump's ‘dead' Indian economy remark, his colleagues disagree: Who said what
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi backed US President Donald Trump's "dead" Indian economy remark. At the same time, his party colleagues as well as the INDIA bloc allies felt otherwise. Rahul Gandhi's colleague and Congress MP Shashi Tharoor said that if America's demands are completely unreasonable, then India's negotiators have every right to resist.(PTI) After announcing the 25 per cent tariff and an unspecified penalty on New Delhi, Trump had said that India and Russia "can take their dead economies down together". Rahul Gandhi was asked about the remark in the Parliament complex, to which he replied, "Yes, he is right. Everybody knows this except the Prime Minister and the Finance Minister. Everybody knows that the Indian economy is a dead economy. I am glad that President Trump has stated a fact... The entire world knows that the Indian economy is a dead economy." Rahul Gandhi's colleagues feel otherwise Congress leader Shashi Tharoor said that it is a "very serious matter" for India". He said, "25, plus an unspecified penalty for our buying oil and gas from Russia, it could take it up to 35-45... There's even talk of a 100% penalty, which will destroy our trade with America... The trade negotiations are still going on, and there is a possibility that this may come down. If it doesn't, it will damage our exports, because America is a very big market for us." Tharoor further added that if America's demands are completely unreasonable, then India's negotiators have every right to resist. "America has to understand our needs as well. Our tariffs on America are not that unreasonable. It's about 17 per cent average. American goods are not priced competitively enough to sell in the Indian market," he told news agency ANI. Rajeev Shukla Congress MP Rajeev Shukla slammed Trump and said that his 'dead' Indian economy remark "is wrong". "The Indian economy is not dead. Economic reforms were made when PV Narasimha Rao and Manmohan Singh were there. Atal Bihari Vajpayee took those reforms forward. Manmohan Singh strengthened it in the 10 years. The current government has also worked on it," he told ANI. Shukla further defended the country and said that India's economic condition is not at all weak. "If someone claims they can finish us economically, it's likely due to a misunderstanding," he added. The Congress leader said that Trump was "living in a delusion", adding that imposing tariffs is wrong. "Every nation has the right to trade with the nation it wants. Restricting them, speaking against the BRICS, speaking against trade and import from Russia, this is not right," Shukla added. Imraan Masood Congress MP Imraan Masood expressed solidarity with Prime Minister Narendra Modi while condemning the US President's remark on the Indian economy. "This government is not ready to speak even a single word on Trump... Have we become slaves of America? America is threatening us every day... What he (Donald Trump) said today is very objectionable. The whole country will stand firmly with PM Modi against this. But he should answer Trump," he told ANI. Priyanka Chaturvedi Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Priyanka Chaturvedi hit out at Trump's "arrogance" and "ignorance" for his 'dead' Indian economy comment. "Not that one needs to say it there's enough legitimate data available to know that Indian economy is in the top 5 of the world and one of the fastest growing economies. Calling it a dead economy can only come from a position of arrogance or ignorance. Thank you for your attention to this matter!" she said in a post on X. RJD MP Manoj Jha said that Trump's remark was not just on the government but on the entire nation. "It has been a tradition in the Rajya Sabha to ask for clarifications, but any possibility of that was ruled out today... This was not just a comment on the government but on India," he added.
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Donald Trump tariffs: US revenue hits record high in 2025; earns $87 billion in first-half
Donald Trump tariffs (AI image) The United States has collected more tariff revenue in the first-half of 2025 than in all of last year, signalling a dramatic rise in income driven by President Donald Trump's aggressive trade policy. As per news agency AFP, the US treasury recorded more than $87 billion in tariff revenue through June, surpassing the $79 billion collected in the entirety of 2024. June alone brought in $26.6 billion in tariffs, nearly four times the amount recorded in January. The figures reflect the sharp escalation in duties introduced since Trump returned to office and began dismantling the US's post-WWII free trade playbook. Trump's administration has struck several trade deals with other countries that include tariff rates significantly higher than previous levels. However, they remain below the maximum figures that were initially threatened. Starting August 1, new tariff rates of between 11 and 50 per cent are set to take effect for around 80 countries, including the entire European Union. The same day will also see a 50 per cent levy on copper imports come into force. Trump praised the impact of his tariff strategy on social media, claiming it had revived the country's fortunes. 'One year ago, America was a dead country; now it is the 'hottest' country anywhere in the world,' he posted on Truth Social. He further declared that the tariffs were making America 'great & rich again' as global governments rushed to finalise trade agreements ahead of the deadline. The sharp rise in tariffs is already having a visible impact on prices across the US economy. According to news agency AP, the Federal Reserve's preferred inflation gauge rose to 2.6 per cent in June, up from 2.4 per cent in May. Excluding food and energy, core prices were up 2.8 per cent compared to the same period last year. The Fed, which left its benchmark interest rate unchanged at 4.3 per cent last week, expressed caution about cutting rates too soon. Chair Jerome Powell noted that it could take time to assess whether the price rise is temporary or more persistent. On a monthly basis, overall prices and core prices each rose 0.3 per cent. The biggest increases were seen in imported goods: furniture rose by 1.3 per cent, appliances by 1.9 per cent, and computers by 1.4 per cent in June. Meanwhile, gas prices increased by 0.9 per cent and grocery costs by 0.3 per cent. Despite the solid GDP growth of 3 per cent in the second quarter, American consumers remained cautious. Consumer spending rose by just 0.3 per cent from May to June, with inflation-adjusted growth at a marginal 0.1 per cent. The commerce department reported that year-to-date consumer spending has remained sluggish, with only a 1.4 per cent annualised increase in Q2. As per AP, some services saw price drops, such as hotel stays, which fell 3.6 per cent in one month, and airfares, which declined 0.7 per cent. However, the impact of higher import costs on goods continues to dominate inflation trends. The new tariff rates, coming into effect next week, are expected to further shape consumer behaviour and inflation metrics in the months ahead. Stay informed with the latest business news, updates on bank holidays and public holidays . Discover stories of India's leading eco-innovators at Ecopreneur Honours 2025
